Richard H Fraley

US Patent:

52302733, Jul 27, 1993

Filed:

Jul 25, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/558068

Inventors:

Richard R. Fraley - Allenton MI

Assignee:

TRW Inc. - Lyndhurst OH

International Classification:

F15B 910

US Classification:

91371

Abstract:

A power steering control valve assembly includes inner and outer valve members and a force transmitting assembly which resists relative rotation between the valve members. The force transmitting assembly includes an upper reaction element which is connected with the inner valve member, a lower reaction element which is connected with the outer valve member and a plurality of force transmitting elements or balls which are disposed between the upper and lower reaction elements. The balls engage recesses in the inner valve member and rotate with the inner valve member. The balls also engage recesses formed in the lower reaction element. In one embodiment of the invention, only three balls are utilized. Hydraulic and mechanical balancing of the power steering control valve is attained by hydraulically balancing the inner and outer valve members before connecting the lower reaction element with the outer valve member. Thus, the lower reaction element is loosely positioned relative to the outer valve member.